Sequester the Senate?

Updated Jan. 11, 1999 12:01 a.m. ET

The day after Chief Justice Rehnquist swore in 100 Senators to serve as jurors in the Clinton impeachment trial, six of them--Lieberman, Hutchison, Snowe, Specter, Leahy and Kerry--showed up on Larry King's show to talk about the trial. Several gave lawyerly opinions on what is and isn't common practice at trials. If memory serves, most trials don't allow jurors to go on television at night to discuss the day's proceedings. We suppose Justice Rehnquist could order the Senate sequestered, though shutting up Senators cold turkey no doubt would spontaneously generate a quick vote to shut down the trial. On reflection,...